Your dictionary term today is:
Illyrian: Winged Fae. The wings are skin though, so think bat wings, not feathered wings.
Siphons: Magical gemstones that assist Illyrians with channeling their magic and giving it shape. Primarily used for combat
Fate Has Wings And A Dark Smile (It comes from not seeing the sun for a millennia)
It's not that wings aren't uncommon in this day and age. It's not that wings aren't a semi-common appendage to have in this day and age. They appear here and there, and it's not unusual for Ochako to glance at the cafe door and notice someone shuffling through the door and tucking their wings in tight to their back to fit into the cramped little space. Illyrians are the most common, and she's even seen Illyrian warriors a few times. She can always mark them by the Siphons on their wrists, the little leather bracelets with stones of varying colour that allows them to channel their magic and form it.
So it's not the novelty that seems to always make her pause when she sees this Illyrian walk in. If anything, it's how un-Illyrian he seems everytime he walks in.
Even after millennia of progress and everything else that has happened, Illyrians are still known for being the largest, loudest, and sometimes the crudest of patrons. They're a warrior race, and while there is some prejudice that comes with that, Ochako knows that they are also some of the most disciplined individuals in existence.
Even with times and cultures changing, they still stand on, keeping their warriors in those frozen mountain camps and training them until they earn the title of warrior, before they get to leave and head into the cities.
Which brings her back to him.
The lithe Illyrian that always comes in, rain or shine, with a dark green beanie and his wings tucked in as close as physically possible to his back, just to wait in line in a tiny coffee shop that neighbors a bookstore in what Ochako considers the most cramped part of Summer Court.
Not only is it eternally summer- which makes it unbearably hot to wear long sleeves, which this Illyrian seems to always wear- but she can't imagine the straight backed chairs are comfortable for his wings.
She fills an order for a low-fat iced latte and sets it to the side, wiping the counter clean before moving to the register.
He waits for her to get there, no trace of the stereotypical Illyrian impatience as he shoves his hands into dark wash jean pockets and peruses the menu behind her.
"Your usual?" She quips.
He glances down at her, lips teasing upwards into the start of a smirk as emerald eyes seem to dance as they reflect the overhead light fixtures.
It's entirely unfair how attractive some Fae males are.
"It's a bit too warm for something hot," he says, "what do you recommend that's cold." His voice sounds like a rumble of thunder off in the distance, somehow both terrifying and alluring at the same time.
She has an entire list she could give him of her favorite iced drinks.
"How about a cold brew then?"
"Something sweet? I'm not the biggest fan of bitter," he admits. She can picture him having a sweet tooth, ironically before she can picture him fitting in with the other Illyrian brutes she's seen around the city.
His Siphons flash in the light as he pulls out a wallet, counting through an assortment of bills before handing her a bill for the coffee. "Keep the change."
She smiles at him, measuring out his change and depositing it in the communal tip jar. If he notices he doesn't say anything about it as she busies herself with making his drink.
She sets it on the counter a moment later, but hesitates when she realizes she has never once asked him for a name. Most of the time he doesn't even order through her, but one of her coworkers.
"Just carry it to him," Mina suggests behind her, the Fae woman twisting around Ochako as she makes to get the register. "I can cover the counter for a moment." She gives her a wink when Ochako hesitates and suddenly Ochako is scurrying around the counter just to not have to make eye contact with Mina.
Honestly.
She could be so… so pushy.
Ochako isn't quite sure what she's supposed to do, and finds herself hedging awkwardly a pace away from him. He's pulled out a book, quietly reading as he waits for his coffee. The coffee she is currently holding, and the only reason he has bothered to grace the coffeeshop with his quiet, steadfast presence.
She's still standing there awkwardly when he looks up.
His smile is dazzling as he looks at her, making little crinkles near his eyes before he flicks one hand.
A green projection of a hand appears, scooping the coffee out of her hands and bringing it back to him. She startles enough and a second hand appears, applying gentle pressure on her shoulder and keeping her steady. She stares at him, and he tilts his head as if he wants her to take a step just a little closer.
She thinks she should be scared.
Still, she takes a step closer as he brings his coffee to his lips and takes a slow sip.
"Thank you," he tells her, glancing up at her. "I realized after I left the counter that I didn't give you my name."
"Oh it's…" She swallows, then gives him a small smile. "It's fine. It happens all the time." Her eyes betray her, glancing over his shoulder to his back, where a green projection has covered the back of the metal chair. He nestles back against it, and she realizes that it's been created to give his wings enough room to be comfortable and not get sandwiched against the hard metal.
"Most chairs in the other courts aren't built for Illyrians," he explains with a small grin. "So I learned to fashion my own."
She smiles, unsure what else to add as she takes a step back. "I'm glad that you found a work around, I need to get back to…" She trails off, realizing that Mina has taken care of the rest of the line, and now there's nothing readily available she can use to excuse herself with.
"It's fine," he assures her. "My name's Izuku, if I ever forget to tell you my order again."
"Ochako." She adjusts her name tag. "I hope you like your coffee."
"I would be hard pressed to find a coffee I didn't like here," he replies, his attention returning to his book for just a moment before flicking back up to her. His mouth opens, and then abruptly closes as a ringtone goes off. He sighs, long and heavy before getting up, fishing a flip phone out of his pocket and bringing it to his ear. "Hello?"
She shouldn't be eavesdropping, but Ochako slows her walk back to the counter and prays nothing loud happens between her and him as she picks up a rag and starts wiping off the counter closest to him.
"No, I didn't ask her…"
He was going to ask someone something?
"Wait, you told her? Flat out?" Her Illyrian groans softly. "Of course she ran off…" He huffs. "Alright." A pause. "No no no. Don't… Don't do that. Give me the address. I'll give her your number and you can…." He groans again, and she glances back at him to see him rolling his eyes and combing a hand up into his beanie before pulling it off to reveal matching dark green hair.
"I'll be there in a few hours. Try not to go crazy." He hangs up, shoving the phone into his pocket.
He picks up his coffee, and she becomes aware that she's staring when he meets her gaze and gives her a small smile. "Another time." He raises the cup at her as he walks out the door.
As soon as he's out the door, those wings he's been keeping folded so tightly to his back unfurl and flex. She can physically see the muscles in his back flex and ripple even through the dark leather jacket he's wearing as he takes off.
A hand grabs her shoulder, spinning her around. Mina's dark eyes peer into her, a crazed grin on her lips as she demands, "Tell me you got his number!"
Ochako shoves her off, frowning as she heads back around the counter to check the flavorings. Mina unfortunately follows, and the door doesn't chime to indicate another customer to get the Fae off her.
"No. I didn't," Ochako says, when Mina asks again, tugging on her sleeve lightly.
Mina groans, bowing her head low enough that it thuds softly against the stone counter. "By the Cauldron. Ochako honey, he was all over you. Did you not see?" She groans again. "You have literally one of the most feared Illyrian warriors asking you your preference in cold coffees and you don't think twice about asking him why he's giving you attention?"
Ochako scoffs, rolling her eyes at the female as she wipes the counter clean and deposits the rag in the sink. "He might be an Illyrian warrior but I don't think he's some powerful general warrior thing."
She huffs, shaking her head.
"Mother's tits, you need to get a streaming crystal."
Ochako shrugs her shoulders as the door chimes and she moves over to the register to take the new patron's order. Mina was exaggerating. If he was that important, then what was he doing out of Night Court, trailing around Summer Court in a dingy little coffeeshop?
Definitely not flirting with some poor mortal girl that was trying to make ends meet so she could pay for the other half of her scholarships. That's what.